Page 11 of Condemned to Love

I push through the crowd, my heart hammering against my ribcage. My eyes lock onto Aldric's, demanding answers he hasn't given yet. I can feel the urgency in every step I take.

"What about the humans?" My voice cuts through the murmurs like a blade. "What happened to them?"

A small, sad part of me hopes he says they are all dead. It's better than being with a dark elf.

Aldric's gaze shifts to me, his expression unreadable, masked by those dark shadows around his eyes. He doesn't answer right away, which makes my anxiety spike even higher.

"Some were taken," he finally says, his voice gravelly and weighted with sorrow. "Most were slaughtered."

His words slam into me, knocking the breath from my lungs. The images flood back—faces of friends and fellow slaves, their laughter and hope, now replaced by screams and blood. Rage bubbles up inside me, hot and fierce.

"They took some as slaves?" My voice is barely more than a whisper.

Aldric nods, his face grim. "Yes. The dark elves always need more to torment."

My vision blurs for a moment as I try to process this information. Slavery is a fate worse than death for many of us who have experienced it firsthand. The thought of those humans—our people—being dragged away to suffer under the cruel hands of dark elves is unbearable.

I straighten up, feeling a steely resolve harden within me. I won't let this stand. I can't.

"They need to be saved." I look to Selene, knowing she understands how I feel. "The dark elves can't just take humans."

Selene steps forward, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. "We will," she promises softly.

But it's not enough for me to wait for plans to be made or orders to be given. My entire body buzzes with the need for action.

Raziel must see a look on my face because he holds up a hand to slow me down. "We will plan our counterattack carefully," he says firmly. "Rushing in without strategy will only lead to more deaths."

The ferocity in my heart doesn’t wane, but I nod in understanding.

The fate of those taken burns like fire in my veins. This isn't just about revenge anymore; it's about justice and saving others from enduring what I did.

I'll fight for them with every ounce of strength I have left.

Aldric's voice rings out, clear and commanding as he looks at Raziel. "We need to increase training. Everyone needs to be ready to fight."

The authority in his tone leaves no room for argument, yet as I glance around the courtyard, I’m struck by the lack of response from the others. Vrakken stand idly, some exchanging glances, others looking bored or uninterested. My eyes widen in disbelief.

How can they not see the urgency? The threat that looms over us all?

"We must be prepared," Aldric continues, turning slightly towards Raziel but making sure his words carry to everyone present. "The dark elves won't stop with one base. We need every warrior trained and ready."

His passion is palpable, almost contagious. But it’s met with a disconcerting apathy. A few vrakken nod absently, but most just stare blankly or return to their previous activities. My blood boils at their indifference.

Raziel steps forward then, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Aldric speaks the truth," he declares, voice resonating with authority. "Training will be intensified starting today."

But even Raziel's words seem to have little effect on the majority of the vrakken around us. Their apathy is infuriating.

I turn to Selene, who is still standing next to me, her hand warm on my shoulder. "Why don't they care?" I fume, keeping my voice low. "This isn't just about them. It's about everyone, all the bases. The dark elves are a threat to all of us."

Selene's eyes flicker with understanding and something deeper—frustration, maybe? She nods, squeezing my shoulder gently. "I know," she murmurs. "But the vrakken... They've forgotten to fight. You know how they can be."

Before I can respond, Jessa approaches up behind Selene, Nikolai not too far behind her. "Can you believe this?" she says angrily, her hazel eyes flashing with determination. "The vrakken should want to protect their base, their home."

"We were just saying the same thing," Selene says with a nod. Their support feels like a lifeline in this sea of indifference. I draw strength from Selene's words, from the fire in Jessa's gaze.

"We can't just stand by and do nothing," I say, my voice gaining confidence. "We need to fight back, to show them we're not afraid."

Selene and Jessa exchange a look, and then Selene nods, a fierce smile curving her lips. "Raziel did sayeveryoneneeds to fight," she points out.

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